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Michigan State's Felton Davis III celebrates after scoring on a two-point conversion during the fourth quarter on Friday, Aug. 31, 2018, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing. Nick King/Lansing State Journal

Michigan State's Joe Bachie, center, celebrates with teammates David Dowell, right, and Matt Morrissey after a stop during the first quarter on Friday, Aug. 31, 2018, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing. Nick King/Lansing State Journal

Michigan State's head coach Mark Dantonio signals to go for two points after a touchdown during the fourth quarter on Friday, Aug. 31, 2018, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing. Nick King/Lansing State Journal

Michigan State's Jalen Nailor, left, pulls off Utah State's Gaje Ferguson's elbow brace as he returns an interception during the third quarter on Friday, Aug. 31, 2018, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing. Nick King/Lansing State Journal

Michigan State's head coach Mark Dantonio looks on before Utah State snaps the ball during the third quarter on Friday, Aug. 31, 2018, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing. Nick King/Lansing State Journal

Michigan State's Darrell Stewart Jr. takes time alone in the end zone before the Spartans' game against Utah State on Friday, Aug. 31, 2018, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing. Nick King/Lansing State Journal

Michigan State's Kenny Willekes greets fans on his way to the locker room after the Spartans defeated Utah State on Friday, Aug. 31, 2018, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing. Nick King/Lansing State Journal

Michigan State's Cody White dives through the Utah State defense for extra yards after a catch during the second quarter on Friday, Aug. 31, 2018, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing. Nick King/Lansing State Journal

Michigan State's Brian Lewerke, left, runs for a gain as Utah State's Darwin Thompson closes in for the tackle during the second quarter on Friday, Aug. 31, 2018, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing. Nick King/Lansing State Journal

Michigan State's LJ Scott, right, runs with the ball as Utah State's Christopher 'Unga closes in during the first quarter on Friday, Aug. 31, 2018, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing. Nick King/Lansing State Journal

Michigan State players, from left, David Beedle, Raequan Williams, Khari Willis and Matt Morrissey lock arms before taking the field for warm ups before the Spartans' game against Utah State on Friday, Aug. 31, 2018, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing. Nick King/Lansing State Journal

Michigan State's head coach Mark Dantonio sits alone in the stands before the Spartans' game against Utah State on Friday, Aug. 31, 2018, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing. Nick King/Lansing State Journal

The Michigan State University football team walks by fans at the Sparty statue on campus before the Spartans' game against Utah State on Friday, Aug. 31, 2018, in East Lansing. Nick King/Lansing State Journal

Claire Casey, 11, of Okemos, throws a football to her father Jeff while tailgating before the Spartans' game against Utah State on Friday, Aug. 31, 2018, in East Lansing. Nick King/Lansing State Journal

EAST LANSING – Michigan State linebacker Joe Bachie was the hero of the defense Friday night against Utah State, tipping a pass and coming down with the interception with 1:15 left to play in the Spartans' 38-31 victory.

But for a defense that returned nine starters and was No. 2 in the nation against the run a year ago, there are more questions than answers after Utah State gashed the Spartans for 344 yards — 202 in the first half — and 24 points.

Both of those numbers were unexpected for a unit that many believe is among the best in college football. The Spartans held nine of their 13 opponents under that threshold last year.

Most of that pain came from sophomore QB Jordan Love, running back Darwin Thompson and Utah State's crazy fast uptempo offense.

Love accounted for 317 total yards and a TD. He came back to earth after a hot start, completing 10 of his first 11 passes, but finished strong in leading a 15-play, 75-yard drive that finished with a Thompson TD run and gave Utah State a 31-30 lead with 5:05 left.

"We prepared all week for this, for their defense," Love said. "We knew what they were going to do. We were able to attack them in the passing game and still did a pretty good job running the ball."

Initially, Michigan State started out in soft zone coverage, as Utah State lined up in an "Ace" formation (one running back in the backfield) in running the read option as part of its passing attack. But the quick score forced defensive coordinator Mike Tressel to play more man coverage, a move that resulted in Utah State only tallying 57 yards and throwing an interception on its next four possessions.

Utah State especially went after senior Khari Willis early, and he's the one who came up with an interception with 12:05 left in the first half.

"We had some change-ups in our game plan," Willis said. "Our coaches, they've been in (these) positions (before). (Utah State) had a script coming out and it worked. We made adjustments to cover them a little different and do some things on the back end."

Some of the same issues that plagued Michigan State in losses to Ohio State and, most comparably, Northwestern last year reared their ugly head as the Aggies' tempo left the Spartans on skates.

The Spartans play Indiana in three weeks, a team with an offense that also relies on tempo to move the ball. And next week's opponent, Arizona State, runs an "Air Raid-"type offense and tempo is expected to be a component of that as well.

"We just had to focus on that in practice and we got the job done. A win's a win," said linebacker Brandon Bouyer-Randle. "It's good that we played Utah State, because, just to get the wrinkles out."

If Utah State's high-tempo offense looked familiar, think back to the halcyon days of Missouri football. Offensive coordinator David Yost was at Missouri from 2001-2012 as a quarterbacks coach and, later, adding offensive coordinator duties, coaching the likes of Brad Smith, Chase Daniel and Blaine Gabbert, record-breaking college QBs.

"They attacked us very well," Bachie said. "Their offense, with that quarterback able to run the ball, put us in some struts. Their pace is hard. When they play with tempo, it's tough. We got to adjust and we got to be better."

The Aggies punched the Spartans in the mouth in the game's opening drive, needing less than three minutes to drive 75 yards in seven plays and take a 7-0 lead. Love accounted for all but one yard of the drive.

"We thought we'd be able to sub if we were right on top of it," Tressel said. "Obviously, it caught us in the first drive and we had to stop doing that."

Despite that, there was still plenty of rotating, especially on the defensive line and at linebacker. Bachie was the only constant in the linebacking trio. Sometimes, he was paired with Jon Reschke and Bouyer-Randle. Other times it was starters Andrew Dowell and Tyriq Thompson. Sophomore Antjuan Simmons also saw time at linebacker.

"That was the game plan going in," Bouyer-Randle said. "Especially with anticipating their fast tempo. A lot of us got good reps and we'll see how the rest of the season goes."